Roland batted at one of the doors, then skittered backwards. A moment passed, then the door was ripped from its hinges and thrown twenty feet into the hall before hitting thefloor.
Steam and smoke—byproducts of the more-powerful-than-necessary-spell—filled theair.
Well. I hope the ogre isn’t nearby, or Roland just alerted him to ourpresence.
Angelique expected the magic cat to use more caution, but he was already charging into thehall.
“Gabrielle, you ungracious—ugh—foul-smellingchild!” heyowled.
Angelique edged her way after him, squinting in the haze.And if the explosion didn’t alert the ogre, Roland’s caterwauling will. Yes, he has definitely changed—for the better, Ithink.
“I am gone for one day, and youreplaceme with that orange-haired interloper who has not a lick of sense.” Roland made it through the clouds of smoke, and Angelique staggered after him, adjusting her hold on her spells as she peered around the hall, looking for themonster.
It was empty, except for Roland’s beautiful, blonde-hairedfriend.
“Puss!” Gabrielle shouted. The young lady scrambled across the room and scooped the persnickety cat up, snuggling him to her shoulder. “You’re alive. You’rehere!”
Angelique was distracted from ogre-searching long enough to openly gape at the way Roland—ever-correctRoland—let her refer to him by such aname.
He didn’t seem to mind it, for he rubbed his cheek against Gabrielle’s chin. “Of course. You doubted I would survive such trivialwounds?”
“They weren’t trivial,” Gabriellesaid.
Angelique grunted in quietagreement.
Gabrielle continued, “You almost died! I didn’t know if you would make it or if you would be the sameafterwards.”
Roland twitched his whiskers. “You feared I would be dim-witted?”
“Well, blowing up doors in a castle occupied by an ogre is not the most intelligent thing to do,” Gabriellesaid.
“Well stated,” Angelique muttered under her breath as she continued to survey the room. It really was as empty as it appeared—with the exception of a small orange cat that lingered near Gabrielle. (Perhaps she had a particular affinity forcats?)
She made a slow circle as Roland continued to lecture his traveling companion. “You are scoffing atmyintelligence?” he demanded. “Good heavens—what little clevernessyouhad has been beaten out of you. Coming here alone? What were you thinking? Now hush. We must flee and regroup. We’ll take the ogre out when I grace us with a fresh plan. Angelique, have you successfully pin-pointed that vile creature’slocation?”
Angelique’s eyes watered—she wasn’t sure if it was from the smoke or the pungent, musky smell that filled the hall. “No. I must have performed the spellwrong.”
Roland hopped out of Gabrielle’s arms and stalked his way over to Angelique. “What has you drawing that conclusion?” heasked.
“I can’t find a sign of him anywhere.” Angelique frowned as Roland twined his tail around herskirts.
“You won’t be able to.” Gabrielle said nonchalantly. “He’sdead.”
Chapter 6
Gabrielle grinnedwhen Roland whipped around to addressher.
“What?” Roland thundered. “How?”
“I tricked him into becoming a mouse, and yourfelinelady friend ate him.” Gabrielle approached a chair and picked up the orange-colored cat sitting next toit.
Angelique tried not to gape at the adventurous girl. “You’re certain the ogreperished?”
“Oh, yes.” Gabrielle looked a little green as she sat down, hard, still holding the orange cat. “I heard her crunch on hisbones.”
Angelique held in a grimace at the description.Roland was wrong; she must be brilliant to defeat an ogre by herself. No wonder she can keep pace withhim.
Roland must have still been upset with his friend for venturing to Carabas alone, for instead of approaching her—as Angelique was certain he wanted to—he sat down next to Angelique. “Are you well?” heasked.
